8th Pay Commission: A Ray of Hope for Millions of Government Employees
8th Pay Commission : November is shaping up to be a crucial month for millions of government employees in India. There is a growing expectation that the long-standing wait of over a decade for the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission might finally end.
The government and employee unions are scheduled to meet next month to discuss a much-anticipated salary hike.
While the demand for a salary increase has been persistent, this is the first time that both parties will be sitting together to finalize a decision. If a consensus is reached, it would be a significant boon for government employees.
The focus of these discussions is the long-awaited 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to determine the salary structure for government employees. Despite repeated demands, the government has remained silent on the issue until now.
However, the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), a body formed to discuss the service conditions of employees, has agreed to meet with employee unions next month to discuss various matters, including the 8th Pay Commission.
Why is there increased optimism this time?
The reason for the heightened optimism is that Shiv Gopal Mishra, the president of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation and secretary of the JCM National Council, has expressed confidence that this meeting will bring some clarity on the 8th Pay Commission. Employee union representatives are expected to raise this issue during the meeting.
The last pay commission was formed a decade ago
Mishra pointed out that while employee unions have already submitted memoranda to the government, there has been no official response. The 7th Pay Commission was constituted in 2014, and its recommendations were implemented in 2016.
Although there is no mandatory timeline for implementing pay commissions, it is typically done every 10 years. However, the 7th Pay Commission had recommended that the review of employee salaries should not be limited to a 10-year cycle and should be conducted periodically.
How much will salaries increase?
In their letter to the government, employee unions have emphasized that the workload, economy, and demand for services have significantly changed since the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission.
Therefore, they believe that the 8th Pay Commission should consider these factors and determine a commensurate salary hike. It is worth noting that the previous pay commission had recommended a 23% increase. Employee unions are now anticipating a 30-35% hike.